This Notice is a time-sensitive Request for Information
(RFI) inviting comments and suggestions on the health and health research
needs, specific health issues and concerns for lesbian, gay, bisexual,
trans/transgender and intersex (LGBTI) populations.

Background

In 2009, the NIH commissioned the Institute of Medicine
(IOM) Report to…assess the state of the science on the health
status of…LGBT populations; identify research gaps and opportunities related to
LGBT health; and outline a research agenda that will assist NIH in enhancing
its research efforts in this area.

To continue to address this array of health issues and
research opportunities, the Committee was reconstituted under the leadership of
the Eunice Kennedy Shriver
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and the
National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD). The new
LGBTI Research Coordinating Committee serves as a trans-NIH committee to
facilitate and coordinate collaborations and other activities related to LGBTI
health across the NIH ICOs as well as with other HHS agencies. The NIH LGBTI Committee
is an important forum for discussing the diverse health issues for these
communities and serves as a catalyst for developing additional research and
training initiatives to ensure that LGBTI health needs continue to be
identified, addressed, and incorporated in our research and training
initiatives, funding opportunities, and programs.

As part of its efforts to advance LGBTI health, NIH is
requesting input through this Notice on the following issues to inform the
development of an NIH LGBTI Research Strategic Plan:

Challenges
(including, but not limited to):

Methodological or other challenges to data collection and
analysis for small and/or hard-to-reach and/or heterogeneous LGBTI populations,
including the development of valid and reliable methods for asking individuals
about their sexual orientation and gender identity to better understand and
advance LGBTI health.

Opportunities
(including, but not limited to):

Opportunities to expand the knowledge base of LGBTI health
(including those identified in the RCC report referenced above), existing
data-collection efforts, and other resources and scientific advances on which
further research could be built

Training in LGBTI health research and enhancing the cultural
competency of researchers and individuals working with LGBTI persons in
clinical settings, specifically how NIH can collaborate with other federal
agencies to develop programs for enhancing cultural competency

Effective ways to engage with the LGBTI health research and
advocacy communities, which include the broad range of populations that may be
encompassed by the term LGBTI, including, but not limited to:

People
who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgendered;

People
with congenital “intersex” (disorders of sex development) conditions;

People
who do not identify as LGBT, but nonetheless experience same-sex attraction and/or
engage in same-sex sexual behaviors, which includes those who identify as queer
and/or questioning; and

People whose
gender identity differs from the sex assigned to them at birth; whose gender
expression varies significantly from what is traditionally associated with or is
typical for that group; and/or who vary from or reject for themselves traditional
cultural conceptualizations of gender in terms of male-female dichotomy. This
group includes people identify (or are identified) as transgendered,
transsexual, cross-dressers, transvestites, two-spirit, queer, and/or questioning.

Effective ways to enhance communication between the NIH and the
LGBTI research community to enhance practical understanding of the NIH mission,
as well as the NIH funding and review processes, and encourage individuals
engaged in research and/or training in LGBTI health to compete for funding
through various NIH mechanisms (both targeted and non-targeted to LGBTI health)

Outcome
Indicators (including, but not limited to):

Potential measures that NIH could use to indicate whether the
proposed activities addressed the challenges or opportunities successfully

Information Requested

To ensure a thorough and comprehensive consideration of
these issues, responses are being sought from all stakeholders in the
extramural community and the general public. Information is sought for
each of the considerations identified above and any other issues that may
affect NIH’s efforts to address them.

Your comments may include but are not limited to:

1. Any of the areas identified above, those in the IOM
LGBT report, those in the Committee’s report, and any other specific areas you
believe are worthy of consideration by the NIH LGBTI Committee, including
identifying the critical issues(s) and impact(s) on LGBTI populations and
health researchers.

2. Information about your personal or institutional
experiences in these areas that you believe would be useful to the NIH LGBTI Committee
in developing a strategic plan for LGBTI health research and advancing the
health of LGBTI individuals.

Response to this RFI is voluntary. Responders are free to
address any or all of the above items. Please note that the Government will not
pay for response preparation or for the use of any information contained in the
response. The comments collected will be analyzed and considered in planning
and development of future initiatives. NIH will provide a summary of all input
received that is responsive to this RFI.

All personal identifiers (e.g., names, addresses, email
addresses, etc.) will be removed when responses are compiled. Please do not
include any personally identifiable or confidential information that you do not
wish to make public.

This RFI is for planning purposes only and is not a
solicitation for applications or an obligation on the part of the United States
(U.S.) Government to provide support for any ideas identified in response to
it. No basis for claims against the U.S. Government shall arise as a result of
a response to this request for information or from the Government’s use of such
information.

Responses to this RFI will be accepted through October 28,
2013. You will see an electronic confirmation acknowledging receipt of your
response, but will not receive individualized feedback on any
suggestions.